Chapter 145: Seven Heroes Pass

Fortunately, the Ancient Immortal Battlefield was sealed by restrictions left by ancient mighty cultivators, which prevented cloud beasts from invading the Little Cold Domain.

Whether due to intentionally left passages or the weakening of the restrictions over time, the ancient seals now have several damaged areas. At these breaches, cultivators of the Little Cold Domain have erected mighty passes, firmly confining the cloud beasts within the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. Disciples are sent into these passes to hunt them, preventing their southward migration and the disruption of the normal world.

These mighty passes also serve as the entry and exit points for the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

The jade slip provided a more detailed description.

Along the edge of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, there are seven major passes: Myriad Demon City, Jiuyong Pass, Xuanlu Pass, Chungang City, Yinshan Pass, and the two cities of Tianyou and Qingyang.

In addition to these, there are also numerous smaller cities, occupied by rogue cultivators or various cultivation sects and families, varying in size and significance.

Three of the seven major passes are guarded by disciples from the Eight Righteous Sects. From west to east, these are Jiuyong, Xuanlu, and Chungang. The vast regions behind these passes, including any discovered ruins within, are naturally under the control of the righteous path.

However, beyond these controlled regions lies completely unclaimed territory. Especially near the spatial rifts, temptation and danger coexist, and over the years, countless Golden Core cultivators have perished there.

To guard the passes, clear cloud beasts from the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, and explore its ruins, the major sects regularly conscript their disciples to enter the battlefield. Shaohua Mountain is no exception.

Sect Master Yu had already informed him about this; even if Qin Sang didn't volunteer for guard duty, he would eventually be conscripted. Typically, a twenty-year garrison period there is considered fulfillment of the task.

To the far west, Myriad Demon City is exclusively occupied by demon cultivators from Tianyao Hill. Although it's only one city, the Ancient Immortal Battlefield area behind it stretches to the extreme west, a region difficult for human cultivators to reach, and its vastness is comparable to the areas controlled by the righteous sects.

Another major city, Yinshan Pass, is situated between the passes controlled by the righteous and demonic paths. Its city lord is said to be an extraordinary Nascent Soul stage grand cultivator.

Both the righteous and demonic factions seem to have an unspoken agreement, refraining from extending their influence here, thus establishing it as a buffer zone. Consequently, Yinshan City is a melting pot of all sorts of individuals: righteous and demonic cultivators, unorthodox practitioners, and people from all walks of life.

The two easternmost passes, Tianyou and Qingyang, are naturally under the control of the demonic path. The jade slip contained little information about these two cities.

Cultivators from the righteous and demonic paths also maintain a clear separation within the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, operating around their respective passes and rarely daring to cross boundaries. Xuanlu Pass, jointly guarded by Shaohua Mountain, Taiyi Pill Sect, and Shangyuan Qingjing Palace, is located in the middle of the three righteous cities, separated from the demonic path by Chungang City and Yinshan Pass, a considerable distance away.

It was precisely for this reason that Qin Sang dared to venture into the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

He knew that the surviving Golden Core cultivator from the Kuiyin Sect was hiding within the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. The Soul Devouring Worm on Qin Sang's primordial spirit would be detected the moment it entered the Golden Core cultivator's spiritual sense range.

The Soul Devouring Worm hung like a sharp sword over his head, constantly reminding him that a crisis remained unresolved. Even within the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, he dared not stray too far from Xuanlu Pass.

Qin Sang had planned to enter the Ancient Immortal Battlefield only after accumulating more strength. His current visit was merely to gather information.

Qin Sang carefully read through the jade slip's contents and committed them to memory. Seeing that it was already late, he retrieved the information on the two demon spirit stage demonic beasts, summoned his Flying Sky Shuttle, and flew out of Shaohua Mountain, heading south.

Concerned about the Nine Illusion Sky Orchid in his cave dwelling, Qin Sang wished he could return there every day to check on it. Thus, he didn't waste a moment. Only after flying out of Shaohua Mountain's controlled territory did he lower his escape light and swiftly glide across the water's surface on his sword.

En route, he reviewed the information on the two demonic beasts.

One was a snake demon, and the other was a white rhinoceros that had become a demon. Both were hidden deep within the Cloud Marsh.

Originally, they had been cultivating undisturbed in their underwater cave dwellings, undetected by Shaohua Mountain. Unfortunately, these two demonic beasts were not content with solitude.

The information about the snake demon was reported by a Senior Brother Wang. He had been dispatched by the sect to handle a minor matter in the Cloud Marsh. On his way back, while flying through the air, he was suddenly attacked by the snake demon.

Fortunately, Senior Brother Wang was quite powerful. Despite being caught off guard, he still managed to protect his vital points and repel the snake demon, albeit injured. However, the demon was elusive and skilled in water-escape techniques. After Senior Brother Wang pursued it underwater, he lost track of it.

Due to his urgency to report back to the Sect Master, Senior Brother Wang had to let it go. However, upon returning to the mountain, he grew increasingly frustrated. He returned twice more but failed to capture the demon, though he did find a snake skin on an island, indicating the demon's cave dwelling was nearby but too well-hidden to be easily discovered.

Thus, Senior Brother Wang reported the matter to the Sect Master, leaving a map and stating that anyone among his fellow disciples who possessed a method to locate and hunt down this demon would receive a generous reward from him.

The white rhinoceros demon was even bolder, attacking a spirit stone mine belonging to Shaohua Mountain.

This spirit stone mine was located on an island, with its vein extending to the island's base. It was never large, and its spirit stones were nearly depleted. Only a few Qi Condensation stage disciples were left to guard it and extract its final value. Coupled with the array restrictions left by the sect, it had always been a peaceful place.

Some time ago, a white rhinoceros demon, appearing from unknown origins, launched an unprovoked attack on the spirit stone mine.

The white rhinoceros demon was a grand demon at the demon spirit stage, while the mine was guarded solely by Qi Condensation stage disciples. Caught by surprise, they were all aghast, hastily activating the grand array and working together to resist.

The white rhinoceros demon could not breach the grand array. After its failed attempt, it disappeared, and the disciples finally felt relieved.

The disciples waited for some time, and seeing that the white rhinoceros demon hadn't reappeared, they assumed it had left. Unexpectedly, a disciple who had just left the spirit stone mine was suddenly attacked by the white rhinoceros demon not long after.

These two locations were far apart. After considering his options, Qin Sang adjusted his escape light and flew towards the spirit stone mine.

Firstly, the information there was more accurate. Secondly, the spirit stone mine had existing restrictions, making it suitable for both offense and defense.

He still didn't know what "honing the path of slaughter" truly entailed – whether it was about understanding one's state of mind through combat, or pushing oneself to the brink of death to gain insights. Using the spirit stone mine's restrictions would be a safer approach.

Traveling by sword-escape, Qin Sang didn't stop except for finding a place to restore his spiritual power. Without encountering any setbacks, it took him half a month to finally spot the island where the spirit stone mine was located.

This island was much larger than the one his cave dwelling was on. It featured a colossal, bottomless canyon that stretched almost the entire width of the island from east to west, appearing remarkably abrupt.

At this moment, a layer of golden-yellow light shimmered above the canyon, precisely the protective grand array of the spirit stone mine.

Faintly visible beneath the light shield were the figures of cultivators sitting cross-legged.